Pilot burner and thermocouple therefor



Y A R w PILOT BURNER AND THERMOCOUPLE THEREFOR Filed Sept. 21. 196':

R O Q E @v .m M M M W a? A rmz/va 3,532,558 PILOT BURNER AND THERMOCOUPLE THEREFOR William A. Ray, North Hollywood, Calif., assignor to International Telephone and Telegraph Corporation,

New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 21, 1967, Ser. No. 669,626

Int. Cl. F23n /10 US. Cl. 136-217 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention includes an economical arrangement for a pilot burner and thermocouple including two concentric, conductive tubes insulated from each other to supply fuel to the burner and, at the same time, to provide electrical conductors from a thermocouple fixed to the tubes in a position over the burner. A loose fit between the tubes also provides a vent for the burner valve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to heating devices, and more particularly to a pilot burner and thermocouple therefor.

In the past, the attachment of a thermocouple and pilot burner to a heating device such as, for example, an automatic gas Water heater or the like, has taken considerable time and effort because several plumbing and electrical connections are required. The connection of a vent tube for the burner valve also increases the involvement of installing heating devices. Mounting each individual component part has also taken considerable assembly time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the device of the present invention, a pilot burner and thermocouple are mechanically and electrically fixed together in a unitary structure which may be easily assembled and mounted in a short time. In particular, the fuel input to the pilot burner is supplied by a pair of conductive conduits, one inside the other. The conduits are insulated from each other so that they may be employed as electrical conductors to the thermocouple.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, a loose fit between conduits acts as a vent for the burner valve.

The above-described and other advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a combination pilot burner and thermocouple constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the burner shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 44 of the burner shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a fitting taken along line 5-5 shown in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A combination pilot burner and thermocouple is indicated at in FIG. 1 which is connected to a fitting 11 by two concentric cylindrical conductive tubes 12 and 13 shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, apparatus 10 includes a thermocouple 14 having a cup-shaped element 15 integral with a base 16. The base 16 has integral rings 17 and 18 extending around and welded to tube 13. Thermocouple 14 also includes an element 19 which has one end 20 welded to tube 12 and another end 21 fixed to the top of element 15. As shown in FIG. 4, element 15 has a circular hole 22 therethrough. Element 19 extends from tube 12 to the top of element 15. The connection of element 19 to element 15 at the upper end thereof provides the hot junction for the thermocouple.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a pilot burner nozzle 23 is telescoped inside of tube 12 and fixed thereto. Nozzle 23 has an orifice 24.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, base 16 has a mounting bracket 25 integral therewith. As shown in FIG. 1, tube 13 extends into a cylinder 26 which is threaded into a mounting base 27 shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, tubes 12 and 13 are insulated from each other by a layer of insulation 28. This same insulation is again shown in FIG. 5. Note will be taken that all of the structures shown in FIG. 5 may be made of a highly conductive metal such as copper with the exception of insulation 28 and an insulating ring 29.

Cylinder 26 provides good electrical contact from tube 13 to base 27. The ends of tubes 12 and 13, and insulation 28 are clamped between the cylinder 26 and an inlet tube 30. Base 27 has a shoulder 31 against which a shoulder 32 on ring 29 rests. Tube 30 has a shoulder 33 which rests against ring 29.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the device 10 of the present invention is a unitary structure which may be easily assembled to a heating device. Further, the tubes 12 and 13 may be employed as electrical conductors from elements 15 and 19 of thermocouple 14.

Perforated rings of insulation may be substituted for layer 28 similar to dielectric spacers employed in gasfilled coaxial cable. Thus, as desired, gas may be supplied to apparatus 10 between tubes 12 and 13 rather than through the interior of tube 12, as shown.

Insulation 28 may be any conventional insulation such as asbestos. Insulation 28 may or may not be conventionally bonded to either one of tubes 12 or 13.

In accordance with a feature of the present invention, base 27 may be the burner valve body and passageway 50 may be a vent port therefor. In this case, a loose fit between one of the tubes 12 or 13 and insulation 28 may allow gas to enter tube 13 at body 27 and escape adjacent the pilot nozzle 23. The space between insulation and one tube may be 5 inch to provide structural integrity, yet an adequate venting space. The 51 inch spacing is, however, by no means critical.

Many other changes and modifications of the invention will of course suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. The invention is therefore not to be limited to the embodiment selected for this disclosure, the true scope of the invention being defined only in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heating device, the combination comprising: a pilot burner; carrier means for supplying fuel to said burner, said carrier means including an inner conductive conduit, an outer conductive conduit surrounding said inner conduit, and a layer of insulation between said conduits; and a thermocouple fixed in a position above said burner, said thermocouple having a first element fixed to one of said conduits and a second element fixed to the other conduit, said conduits being concentric, cylindrical tubes, said pilot burner including a cylindrical tube having an orifice at its upper end and being fixed inside one end of said inner conduit contiguous thereto, said one end of said inner conduit projecting outwardly beyond one end of said outer conduit, said first thermocouple element being a rigid conductive cup-shaped body extending partially around and over the top of said burner, said body being fixed to said outer conduit in electrical contact therewith, said first element also including a mounting bracket fixed to said body, said body having a hole therethrongh at the position of said one end of said inner conduit, said second thermocouple element including a conductor fixed to said one end of said inner conductor in electrical con tact therewith, said second element conductor extending through said hole and around said body, said second element conductor being fixed to the top of said body to provide a thermoelectric junction thereat.

2. In a heating device, the combination comprising: a pilot burner; carrier means for supplying fuel to said burner, said carrier means including an inner conductive conduit, an outer conductive conduit surrounding said inner conduit, and a layer of insulation between said conduits; and a thermocouple fixed in a position above said burner, said thermocouple having a first element fixed to one of said conduits and a second element fixed to the other conduit, one end of said inner conduit projecting outwardly beyond one end of said outer conduit at said burner, said thermocouple first and second elements being fixed to the exposed external surfaces of said inner and outer conduits, respectively, at least one of said thermocouple elements being a rigid body, said elements having a thermoelectric junction, said body supporting said junction in a fixed position over said burner, said conduits being insulated from each other but being mechanically fixed relative to each other by said insulating layer, said body being a cup-shaped conductive shield extending partially around and over the top of said burner, said body having a hole therethrough, the other of said thermocouple elements being a conductor fixed to said one projecting end of said inner conduit and extending through said hole and upwardly and over the top of said shield, said second element conductor being fixed to the top of said shield to provide a thermoelectric junction thereat.

3. In a heating device, the combination comprising: a burner; first and second members having ends fixed together to provide a thermoelectric junction in a position over said burner; and first and second electrical conductors connected to the other ends of said members opposite said fixed ends, respectively, said first member having a hole therethrough, said second member extending from said other end thereof through said hole to said fixed end, said second member being everywhere spaced from said first member except at said fixed end thereof, said second member being spaced from and completely out of contact with the entire circumferential edge of said hole.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3, wherein said first conductor is a conductive first conduit and said second conductor having one end projecting from outside said first conduit into the interior thereof, said other end of said second member being electrically connected to said second conductor one end which is outside said first conductor, said first member other end being electrically connected to said first conductor.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein said second conductor is a hollow conduit.

6. The invention as defined in claim 4, wherein at least one of said members is rigid and is fixed to the conductors to which it is electrically connected.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6, wherein said one member is said first member, said first member being a cup-shaped shield cupped around said burner.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7, wherein said second conductor is a hollow conduit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,267,742 12/1941 Mantz l36219 2,649,490 8/ 1953 Greenamyer 136-219 2,833,843 5/1958 Jackson et al. 136219 2,943,132 6/1960 Jackson 136-219 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,237,754 6/1960 France.

CARL D. QUARFORTH, Primary Examiner H. E. BEHREND, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

